When a womain is deficient in folate not only can spontaneous abortion occur, but the baby may not form correctly and could be born with defects such as neural tube defect.

Studies have shown that neural tube defects in a baby can be reduced by up to 80% if a woman begins taking folic acid before she falls pregnant. A folic acid defiency at this time is incredibly harmful to both mother and child, therefore the greatest of attention should be paid to consuming the correct amount of folic acid.

Folic acid along with vitamin B12 assist in the formation of red blood cells as well as in the synthesis of DNA.

Folic acid deficiency can come on quite rapidly as the human body does not store large amounts of folic acid, so it can be depleted in a matter of months.

People suffer from folic acid deficiency because they simply do not consumne enough green raw leafy vegetables or citrus fruits. These two food groups are essential in the ingestion of folic acid.

Large amounts of alcohol consumed regularly will have a detrimental effect in the processing of folic acid and can lead to deficiency.

There are also certain prescription drugs which can deplete folic acid levels. Some of these include Dilantin, Bactrim, Septra, Luminal and Rheumatrex.

Symptoms of folic acid deficiency can include fatigue as an initial sign. In addition,the person may suffer froma anemic conditions such as irritability, dizziness, pale complexion and shortness of breath.

Folic acid deficiency sufferers may also notice a sore red tongue, weight loss and diarrhea. When a pregnant woman develops this deficiency, spinal cord defects can occur in the unborn baby.

A simple blood test can indicate whether someone has folic acid deficiency, so if you suspect this may be you then you are encouraged to seek professional medical opinion.

Folic acid deficiency can be cured by consuming foods that are high in folate, or by vitamin supplements.

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Folic acid first and foremost benefits newly pregnant women and those women who are about to become pregnant. For this reason, women planning a pregnancy are always advised to monitor their folic acid intake and to be conscious of how much they consume. Around 0.4 milligrams per day is the ideal amount of folic acid for a pregnant or pre-pregnant woman to have.

The United States RDA state that this amount of 0.4 milligrams or 400 micrograms is the idea amount needed for optimal health for mother and baby.

Folic acid can actually be depleted through the use of many kinds of prescription drugs. It is advisable to consult your practitioner if you are on prescription medicine and also want to monitor your folic acid intake. This can quickly remove all benefits of folic acid.

Women of child bearing age should generally include more folic acid in their diet compared to other people. This can be done by eating folate rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and poultry.

Studied have indicated that folic acid can decrease the chance of breast and colon cancer in women.

Researchers have also discovered that cleft lip and palate defects can be decreased if the mother has increased her intake of folic acid prior to and following conception. The period after conception usually means up to 2 months after becoming pregnant. The study found that folic acid reduced the risk of orofacial defects by 25% to 50%.

Whilst scientists are not totally sure why folic acid assists in fetus development, it has been shown that folic acid can decrease the chance of a baby being born with spina bifida, heart defect, anencephaly (underdeveloped brain and skull), cleft lip, or cleft palate.

Folic acid benefits naturally make it a simple choice to ensure you are getting enough of this vital vitamin, to ensure not only your own health, but that of your future unborn child as well.

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In actual fact, there is very little to worry about when it comes to consuming too much folic acid. Folic acid is in itself a water soluble vitamin. Therefore the body flushes out any excess. The only side effect of having too much folic acid, for a woman that is, is that it can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. This can be a particular problem for vegetarians. Folic acid deficiency sufferers display some similar symptoms to anemia, so medical opinion should be sought immediately if you suspect you have a folic acid deficiency.

The maximum amount of folic acid a person could safely consume is no more than 1000 micrograms. This is the tolerable upper intake level for folate in both adult men and women. If a woman under 18 years old is pregnant or breastfeeding, then the limit rests at 800 micrograms. The only side effect, as already mentioned, of consuming more than the maximum recommended intake is the chance of symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency being hidden.

Folic acid is not known to have a toxic level so is not considered dangerous. It can however lead to a rare condition not being diagnosed in elderly people. This condition is called pernicious anemia. Excess folic acid may hamper the diagnosis of this condition and therefore lead to neurological damage.

The effects of not enough folic acid far outweigh those of too much folic acid.

Women of child bearing age should pay attention to their folate intake (folic acid is otherwise known as folate). If you know you are going to become pregnant, increase your intake to 400 micrograms per day both before conception and during the first 2 months of pregnancy. This will assist in preventing spinal defects in your baby.

To sum up, consuming too much folic acid is not likely to have a detrimental effect on your health. It is almost impossible to have more than the recommended daily intake of folic acid just through food; therefore if you are not taking any supplements then you are not in any danger of having too much folic acid.

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There are several foods which are rich in folate. It is also very easy to intake too much folic acid. For example, just one glass of orange juice can provide half of the recommended daily intake of folic acid. Consuming several cups of orange juice per day is very easy to do. This can result in too much folic acid which can essentially hide a vitamin B12 deficiency. Therefore you must be conscious of exactly how much folic acid you are consuming so that you don’t overdo, and under do, your intake.

Some of the foods that are rich in folic acid include:

Oranges
Grapefruits
Poultry
Nuts
Seeds
Whole wheat bread
Peas and beans (lightly cooked)
Green leafy vegetables

It is especially important to note not just what you are eating, but how you cook it. If you overcook folic acid rich food, you will drain it of its nutrients. Also some cooking methods are not ideal for retaining these nutrients. For example, cooking vegetables in too much water can have this effect.

It is best to eat raw foods where possible. You may lightly cook vegetables using methods such as microwaving, stir frying and steaming the vegetables.

By adhering to these cooking methods, your food will remain rich in folic acid and your body, and baby, will reap the rewards!

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A woman who intakes 0.4 milligrams per day of folic acid each day prior to pregnancy and in the first 2 months of pregnancy reduce the risk of birth defects in their baby.

Birth defects which may result when folic acid is not taken for pregnancy include neural tube defects, spina bifida, and other conditions including underdevelopment of the brain and abnormal formation of the brain.

The often difficult part is that these defects are formed within the first month of pregnancy – often when a woman may not even know she is pregnant. This is why it is extremely important to confirm a pregnancy if you have any suspicion at all that you may be pregnant. If you are confirmed to be pregnant, speak to your doctor about immediately beginning a folic acid supplemental diet.

To be safe, it is recommended that all women if child bearing age monitor their folic acid intake. It is a good idea to ensure you are getting enough folic acid so that a safe pregnancy will eventuate if you do accidentally become pregnant. It is estimated that around 50% of pregnancies are unplanned!

Folic acid for pregnancy and general health can be ingested either by adhering to folic acid rich foods or by taking a multivitamin which has 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of folic acid in it.

It can generally be a little difficult to consume enough folic acid just through food; therefore a supplement is also ideal. Do check the label on the multivitamin packaging to see how much folic acid exists in each dose.

Keep in mind that for folic acid to serve its purpose during pregnancy, it absolutely must be taken before pregnancy and during the first several weeks of pregnancy. This is because the baby’s neural tube is developing during this time. The neural tube becomes the brain and spinal cord. Obviously it is absolutely vital that these parts of the developing baby do grow properly, which is where folic acid comes into it.

Folic acid is essential for women who may become pregnant or who are newly pregnant. You are encouraged to speak to your doctor if you have any queries about folic acid.

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